Following Farage: On the Trail of the People's Army

by Owen Bennett

Hunting with Godfrey Bloom; lunching on expenses with Janice Atkinson; talking ‘shock and awful’ campaign tactics with Douglas Carswell – nothing is off the table when you’re on the trail of UKlP’s People’s Army. Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail ’72 meets Louis Theroux, Following Farage recounts one hack’s journey as he follows, drinks with, laughs at and even occasionally defends the phenomenon that is the United Kingdom lndependence Party as it prepares to march upon Westminster. With exclusive interviews and unfettered access to all the disgraced generals, trusty foot soldiers, deserters and dissenters who make up its ranks, Bennett delivers the inside scoop on what makes the People’s Army tick – all the while making the transition from elbowed-out hanger-on to the journalist Farage calls for an honest, post-election run-down of events. From the initial skirmishes and battle plans (the successful and the scuppered) to the explosive events of the battle for No. 10 itself – and the all-out civil war that broke out in its aftermath – Following Farage leaves no stone unturned, avenue untrod or pint undrunk in its quest for the truth about Britain’s newest and most controversial political force.

Genres: Politics

Paperback

First published June 25, 2015

About the author

Owen Bennett is a political journalist working in Westminster for The Huffington Post UK. After starting out in local newspapers, he joined the Daily Express, becoming its online political reporter. He then led the political coverage for the Daily Mirror Online, and after the 2015 General Election joined Huffington Post UK. Bennett is a regular contributor to the BBC and Sky News and has written for the New Statesman website and other political blogs.

Reviews

[Richard Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable and fascinating book about the growth of UKIP and its leader. Owen Bennett has followed Nigel Farage and his party as a journalist for a couple of years and partly from working for the Express group of papers has been able to get close to Farage and party hierarchy. He describes the uneasy mixture of populism, nostalgia and nationalism that go to make up UKIP's world view and does expose the fact that there are some strange beasts in the undergrowth of their supporters. These are strange times for British politics and these book does help to shed some light in at least one murky corner.

[Roger Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly entertaining insight into the UK's most interesting political party in the lead up to the 2015 General Election and the chaos afterwards.

[Leon Spence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book as a piece of modern history.

It is both easy to read and provides useful insight into what Nigel Farage has become. It certainly makes you understand the populist right a little better, it certainly makes you like Mr Farage (for all his failings) a little more. It also, to a degree, increases your sympathy for the travails of journalists.

This is a 10 year old book that doesn't appear to have been reviewed in years, an author that has all but disappeared, and only bought because of a sale on the Politico's website, but it is probably the book I have enjoyed reading most this year.

[Josep Marti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book, but the author could have explored more his own relationship with UKIP and his evolution alongside Farage and his people.

[Reza Amiri Praramadhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written in form of journal and interviews, this book talk about the history of UKIP, which is interspersed with its leaders', especially Nigel Farage. Talking about UKIP is generally the same as talking about Farage, and I see that UKIP will have a very hard time trying to separate itself from the influence and legacy of Farage. I applaud the authors' tenacity and devotion to follow these bunch of 'loonies', 'gadflies', and not forgetting 'fruitcakes', rise to power up to their setbacks in 2015 General Election.

[Simon Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fairly entertaining account of a tabloid journalist who followed Nigel Farage during the 2015 General Election. Felt like it dragged a bit in the middle, but then maybe that's a reflection of the fact that I'm not really that interested in the history of UKIP's founding and funding.

This book didn't give me any particularly new insight into UKIP as a party, and I didn't get a particularly good sense of what the author had gained from the experience (other than having written a book). The latter is a shame, as he clearly went to some lengths to keep following Farage (to the extent of changing jobs), but never really explained why.

[Janice Kirkcaldy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable and entertaining look at UKIP's Nigel Farage. Not a supporter of his party I still found it informative and a "What you see is what you get" image of the man. I could relate to Owen Bennet's impressions as I worked in TV news until a few years ago. Politics needs characters and Farage certainly provides this with the rather bland politicians of today. Long may such personalities exist .

[Alison Large · Rating 3 out of 5]

Giveaways winner - thank you!

I wouldn't have chosen to read this if I hadn't won the book as I have very little interest in UKIP or its leadership. The book defied my expectations and turned out to be written in a highly entertaining style and was as much about the journalist as his subject matter. I read it in little snippets over a long period of time and it often brought a smile to my face, another surprise!

[NormaCenva · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is a book with an interesting premise and a good literal execution in regards to written presentation and it's style. But it did not grab me in any of the normal ways good book can. I enjoyed the humour of it and the commentary it was giving but it was nothing spectacular.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book on a goodread giveaway Good writting with a fair dose of hunour but sorry not my thing got stuck half way through Many Thanks